Here’s What Kids Are Saying About Headlice
What are Kids Thinking When They Catch Head Lice?
We wondered how much do children really understand when they catch head lice? Knowing what types of things they are feeling or worrying about can help us to alleviate their concerns. Recently a group of children who were treated at a lice clinic stopped by to answer a few questions for us. Sophie age 8, Jackson age 12, and Luke age 7 were willing to tell us what they thought.
Question #1 – “What are Head Lice?”
Sophie answered, “Head lice is where you have little bugs in your hair. You have lice bugs. Head lice they eat your hair. I am just guessing because they like to go on our head.”
Jackson told us, “Head lice are like really tiny bugs. They are only like a tiny speck so you can’t see them. I think they eat bacteria.”
Luke remarked, “Head lice is really little bugs that have sticky stuff that sticks them to your hair. I think you can get them from outside.”
This sheds some light on kids perceptions of head lice. Not only are they clueless about head lice and their food source, they don’t really even understand what they look like or how they are caught. Prevention is almost impossible if we are not teaching our children how like is transferred and passed from head to head contact.
Question #2 – “How did you know you had head lice? How did you feel?”
Jackson said, “I felt like there was little bugs in my hair. I wanted to wash my hair like super, heavy duty, for like a really long time all day and all night. I wanted to get them out as soon as possible because it was gross.”
Sophie told us, “I was just taking a shower and then my mom sits on the couch, and I sit on the floor and then she combs my hair. With the bottom of the comb she was combing my hair and she found them. She tried to get all the bugs out with it. I felt so scared. I HATE bugs and I only wanted to sleep on the floor because I was scared the bugs were on my bed.”
Luke replied, “I think it felt kinda ticklish and like painful in my hair. I felt super scared and worried that I could get creeped out.”
These are all common reactions for children who catch head lice. Worry, stress, annoyance, feelings of fear and frustrations are all to be expected when dealing with a case of head lice. As parents, it is our job to alleviate their fears and concerns. This is why at Lice Clinics of America we offer the latest technology to treat and eliminate head lice in a fast, effective and pain-free treatment that guarantees your child is lice free.
Question #3 – “How did you feel after your treatment and your head lice was gone?”
Sophie told us, “I felt so happy and relieved! I would not share brushes and hats with any more second graders!”
Jackson said, “I felt like I was clean and felt a lot better. I felt like I could be around people again.”
Luke remarked, “I was so happy I wanted to throw a party!”
Children can feel more stress and grief from these scenarios than we might realize. It is vital for parents to share what we know with them about head lice, who catches it, how to prevent it, and the safest ways to be rid of it. Information is power and can do a lot to help prevent children from catching head lice and feeling reassured if they do.
Did You Know?
Head lice are a worldwide problem. Here at home in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that children between the ages of 3 to 11 are the most likely to become infested with head lice. It is estimated that up to 12 million children will catch head lice each year, an alarming number that continues to grow. Why are Children More Susceptible? Children play together, don’t understand personal boundaries and spend their days in classrooms, at recess or playing games in groups of other children. Head lice are most often passed through direct head to head contact. This is why they are more prone to catching head lice, they live in a world much more closely knit than adults. In fact, adults that live in a household with children between these ages are also at much more risk of catching head lice than other adults.
